Mizoram gears up for first voter roll overhaul in 22 years ahead of 2026 elections

Mizoram is in the final stages of preparation for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls scheduled from April to June 2026 , marking the state’s first comprehensive voter list update in more than two decades. The last such revision was carried out in 2004.

The exercise is part of a nationwide initiative by the Election Commission of India across 22 states and Union Territories to remove ineligible entries and register new voters through a structured, time-bound process.

Mizoram Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ethel Rothangpuii said preparatory work is nearly complete. Training for District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) has been concluded across all districts, while procurement and preparation of enumeration forms are underway. Polling stations have been “rationalised” so that none exceeds the 1,200-voter limit , improving access for voters in both urban centres and remote villages.

Officials, however, acknowledge major challenges in remote tribal and hilly areas , where difficult terrain, scattered settlements and limited connectivity could slow house-to-house verification. To address this, the election department plans to work closely with local bodies, village councils and civil society organisations to facilitate outreach and community participation.

A series of voter awareness campaigns will be launched to encourage citizens to verify their details and enrol eligible family members. Special focus will be placed on young first-time voters who have recently turned 18.

Technology will play a key role in ensuring accuracy and transparency. Updated data is being uploaded to the staging database of ERONET , enabling digital verification, consolidation and tracking of progress.

Migration and demographic changes since 2004 have made the revision necessary. Mizoram’s voter population has increased from 5.59 lakh to 8.74 lakh , while polling stations have risen from 795 to 1,353 across 40 Assembly constituencies .

A sensitisation meeting with recognised political parties is scheduled for February 27 , where parties will be asked to appoint Booth Level Agents for every polling station. Officials believe the exercise will strengthen voter confidence, improve participation, and ensure that future elections reflect the state’s evolving population profile more accurately.